Courtesy Jan Lee

April 15 and 16 are the dates for the Fillmore Flower Show for 2023. The theme is “Garden Treasures”. It should be a beautiful event again this year. Plan to enter some of the lovely treasures growing in your yard. If you go to fillmoreflowershow.org you will see all the rules to enter as well as the many divisions of plants and flowers.

The Flower Show committee, a group of volunteers who appreciate the garden treasures growing in the yards of the Fillmore community, has broadened the eligibility for youth this year. We want to encourage young people to go outside and discover the fun of growing, arranging and displaying plants and flowers. There are three divisions specifically for youth: Division IX Youth Arrangements, Division X Youth Composition and Division XI Youth Art, which is a non-competitive division. Ordinarily, youth must live within the boundaries of the Fillmore Unified School District to enter. But, starting this year, any youth may enter no matter where they live. Youth are age 3 up through 12th grade. All youth entries are FREE. Of course, youth may compete with the adults in any division.

At the Flower Show there will be a plant boutique where you can get some plants to grow in your garden. There will also be a table where children can participate in a gardening activity. While strolling around looking at the displays, you will be entertained by live music. From 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Saturday and Sunday the Flower Show will be open to the public. Admission is free. See you there!

City Council voted 5-0 to approve all agenda items:

7-A PUBLIC HEARING: CONSIDERATION OF THE ADOPTION OF THE CITY’S 2020 URBAN WATER MANAGEMENT PLAN AND WATER SHORTAGE CONTINGENCY PLAN
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the attached Resolution No. 23-3921, adopting the 2020 Urban Water Management Plan and Water Shortage Contingency Plan.

7.B GRANT OF EASEMENT AND AGREEMENT FOR EL DORADO ESTATES ANZA STREET GATE ENTRANCE
The City Engineer recommends that the City Council approve the Grant of Easement and Agreement Affecting Real Property to provide the El Dorado Estates Mobile Home Park with access and maintenance rights for the vehicular access gate, pedestrian access gate, and related infrastructure necessary to access the Park from Anza Street.

7.C DISSOLUTION OF CITY’S ACTIVE ADULT AND FILM COMMISSIONS FILLMORE - STAFF REPORT DISSOLVING ACTIVE ADULT AND FILM COMMISSION.
REQUEST That the City Council approve the first reading of Ordinance No. 23-948 to dissolve the Active Adult Commission by removing Fillmore Municipal Code Chapter 2.34 and approve Resolution No. 23-3920 to dissolve the Film Commission by repealing City Council Resolution No. 06-2911.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve the first reading to introduce Ordinance No. 23- 948 and approve Resolution No. 3920.

7-D 308 CHAMBERSBURG ROAD/SH-23 PROPERTY UPDATE AND REQUEST FOR AUTHORIZATION TO RECORD A DEED RESTRICTION EQUESTRIAN CENTER STAFF REPORT - DEED RESTRICTION.
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize: 1. The Mayor to sign the deed restriction required by HCD and direct staff to record the signed document; and 2. Direct staff to arrange for the sale of the Property on the open market.

7-E FIRST AMENDMENT TO CONTRACT SERVICES AGREEMENT FOR WATER QUALITY ADVISORY SERVICES STAFF REPORT MAGDALENO CONTRACT AMENDMENT 2023
It is recommended that the City Council approve the First Amendment to the Contract Services Agreement with Jaime Magdaleno for Water Quality Advisory Services and authorize the Mayor to sign the First Amendment to the contract.

7.F RECEIVE AND FILE DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC VISION REPORT PREPARED BY RETAIL STRATEGIES AND HAVE STAFF DISSEMINATE THE STRATEGIC PLAN AND ITS PROPOSED IMPLEMENTATION SR - DOWNTOWN STRATEGIC VISION.
It is recommended that the City Council: 1. Receive and file the Downtown Strategic Vision.

7.G CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION AND ADOPTION OF KEY RESULTS AREAS AS THE CITY COUNCIL’S 2023-24 GOALS KEY RESULTS AREA - STAFF REPORT.
Staff recommends that the City Council approve and adopt the attached Key Results Areas as the City Council’s 2023-2024 goals.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On February 8, 2023, deputies assigned to the Fillmore patrol station contacted and arrested William Krol of Santa Cruz for making criminal threats against a female victim.

On February 7, 2023, the victim was walking her dog and was confronted by Krol. Krol aggressively approached the victim and threatened to kill her and seriously injure her dog. A diligent and unidentified citizen intervened and assisted the victim by escorting her to safety. The victim was not injured as a result of the confrontation. The victim was able to call 911 and report the incident. Patrol deputies responded and were unable to locate the suspect.

After the incident, Fillmore patrol deputies and detectives began an investigation and identified Krol as a possible suspect.

On February 8, 2023, a sergeant working patrol contacted and detained Krol at a local shopping center in Fillmore. After further investigation, Krol was positively identified as the suspect who made the criminal threats toward the victim. Krol was arrested for PC 422- Criminal Threats and was booked at the Pre-Trial Detention Facility.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is committed to maintaining the safety of all residents by continued community partnerships. The Fillmore Police Department encourages citizens to immediately report suspicious people and vehicles, and to promptly report any crime they come across by calling 911. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes.

Report Number: 23-16986
Location: Ventura Street & A Street / Fillmore
Date & Time: February 7, 2023 @ 10:20 A.M.
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Detective Bureau and Fillmore Patrol Services
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(S) William Krol, Transient/Santa Cruz, 52
Prepared by: Detective Frank Valdez
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On February 10, 2023, a patrol deputy assigned to the Fillmore patrol station arrested a documented Fresno gang member for illegal possession of a loaded firearm and possession of methamphetamine. A second suspect was also arrested for being under the influence of a controlled substance.

At approximately 3:30 AM, a Fillmore patrol deputy conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle for expired registration traveling in the 700 block of Ventura Street in the city of Fillmore. The vehicle was occupied by three Fresno County residents.

Upon contacting the driver, Suezann Dresser, the deputy determined she was under the influence of a controlled substance and she was placed under arrest.

The front passenger was identified as Jonathan Hernandez. During the ensuing investigation, Hernandez was arrested for being in possession of a loaded and concealed .22 caliber handgun and a small quantity of methamphetamine. Hernandez is a documented Fresno gang member and is prohibited by law from possessing or owning any firearms. The third occupant in the vehicle was released from the scene.

Hernandez was booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trail Detention Facility on various firearms and narcotics violations. Hernandez remains in custody with his bail set at $50,000.00

Dresser was also booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trail Detention Facility for being under the influence of a controlled substance.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is committed to maintaining the safety of all residents by continued community partnerships. The Fillmore Police Department encourages citizens to immediately report suspicious people and vehicles, and to promptly report any crime they come across by calling 911. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes.

Report Number: 23-18486
Location: 700 Block of Ventura Street / Fillmore Ca.
Date & Time: February 10, 2023 @ 3:30 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: Fillmore Patrol Services
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(S-1) Jonathan Hernandez, 36, Fresno
(S-2) Suezann Dresser, 36, Fresno
Prepared by: Sergeant Will Hollowell
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).

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Courtesy FHS Boys Basketball Coach Mark Blankenship

On Wednesday, February 8, 2023, Fillmore vs. Mary Star, first round of DIV 5AA playoff game, played at Fillmore. Fillmore-54, Mary Star of the Sea-49. Leading for Fillmore: Jack Morris, 18 points, 3 rebounds, 8 assists, 1 block, 4 steals; Isaac Weslow, 17 points, 11 rebounds, 1 assist, 2 steals; Nate Delgadillo, 7 points, 12 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 2 steals; Jacob Munoz, 7 points, 3 rebounds, 1 steal.

***

Friday, February 10, 2023, Fillmore vs. Loara, Second round of Division 5AA CIF playoffs, played at Loara. Fillmore 36 - Loara 42, Played at Loara. Leading for Fillmore: Nate Delgadillo, 16 points, 10 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block; Mahki Hooker, 6 points,3 rebounds 1 steal; Jacob Munoz, 5 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 block, 1 steal; Isaac Weslow, 4 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks. Fillmore fell short to Loara, but finished the 2023 season 13-12.

Courtesy Fillmore Historical Museum

When most people think about the beginnings of the history of the Piru (originally pronounced "Pea-roo") area, they go back to 1887 when David Cook of Chicago bought the Rancho Temescal land grant from the Del Valle family and platted the town. Some more informed might go a little further back to when Benjamin Warring traded a pistol for the Buckhorn Ranch. Both would be missing a great deal of the area’s history and interesting stories.

Join Michelle Ybarra McKinley as she takes us back to the time of the Tataviams, the indigenous people who greeted the Portola Expedition in 1769, painting a picture of their life prior to the arrival of the Europeans.

She will tell of the people who settled the area, from Juan Fustero, the saddle maker, the Dominguez family, the Reasoners and others who settled the hills and canyons around Piru.

The Fillmore Historical Museum and Michelle McKinley will share these stories on Zoom on February 23, at 7:00 pm. There is no charge for the event, but you need to preregister to receive the meeting information. You can register now by going to the “Special Events” tab on our website, www.fillmorehistoricalmuseum.org

District Attorney Erik Nasarenko announced that a guilty plea was entered by Juventino Reyes Guerrero (DOB 09/11/78), of Piru, for his role in working with an illegal wildlife poaching group, known as the “E-Bike Crew.”

Reyes Guerrero, the operator of Fish & Wildlife licensing equipment located at Lizette’s Market in Piru, pled guilty on Monday, January 30, 2023, to six felonies, including two counts of conspiracy to commit a crime and four counts of filing a false or forged document.

Reyes Guerrero is scheduled to be sentenced on March 15, 2023, at 9:00 a.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court, where he is expected to receive 180 days in the Ventura County Jail and a lifetime ban operating state computers, such as the one in Lizette’s Market for printing hunting tags.

“The defendant abused the licensing systems and helped to orchestrate illegal killings of local wildlife,” said District Attorney Erik Nasarenko. “His actions endangered our environment, and as a consequence of his guilty plea, he will have a lifetime ban from issuing hunting tags and licenses.”

Martin Bravo Sr. (DOB 04/14/63), of Oxnard, Martin M. Bravo (DOB 05/13/92), of Oxnard, Walfre Lopez y Lopez (DOB 06/14/84), of Oxnard, Gilberto Lopez Hernandez (DOB 02/15/88), of Thousand Oaks, Jaime Mendoza Avila (DOB 10/02/81), of Porterville, and Cristian Lopez Perez (DOB 02/11/91), of Los Angeles, are the six charged members of the “E-Bike Crew” wildlife trafficking organization (WTO).

California Department of Fish & Wildlife investigated the “E-Bike Crew” discovering that they worked with Reyes Guerrero to fraudulently reprint hunting licenses and tags.

“This guilty plea is a testament to the intensive and thorough investigation on the part of our wildlife officers in combination with support from the Ventura District Attorney’s Office investigators and prosecutors,” said David Bess, Chief of the Law Enforcement Division and Deputy Director of the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW).

An early disposition conference for the six WTO members is scheduled for April 6, 2023, at 1:30 p.m. in courtroom 12 of the Ventura County Superior Court.

Defendant Information:
Juventino Reyes Guerrero (DOB 09/11/78), Piru
Charges Pled Guilty to:
• (2 counts) PC 182 (a)(1) – Conspiracy to commit a crime
• (4 counts) PC 115(a) - Filing a false or forged document

Pictured (l-r) is President Elect Scott Beylik and Rotarian Ernie Villegas. Courtesy Rotarian Martha Richardson.
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The speaker was Fillmore Rotary’s own Ernie Villegas. He has recently been appointed to the Fillmore/Piru Memorial District Board. As you all know the Memorial Building and Youth Building are completely closed due to the many repairs needed. Ernie has been working diligently looking for funding and they have been approved for two grants totaling $2.1 million. While that is amazing it will not be enough for the entire renovation. After the complete inspection of the two buildings, a priority list was compiled, and the roof will be the first repair made. Ernie is now researching who can do the work. He has also been talking to the county about making the Memorial Building an Emergency Service Operation Center.

Applications are now being accepted from high school senior girls for the P.E.O. Education Award. Girls planning to attend an accredited undergraduate degree program or a vocational/skills training program may pick up an application in the career center at FHS. Applicants must live within the boundaries of Fillmore Unified School District but do not have to attend Fillmore High School. Potential candidates may also call (805) 625-0264 for information about how to obtain an application. Deadline
to return applications is February 17, 2023.

Ventura County Sheriff's Department

On 01/09/2023, a victim, driving her vehicle out of the extreme weather conditions in the unincorporated area of Ventura County at South Mountain Road / Balcom Canyon Road, became stranded in the mud and water. The victim was forced to evacuate and abandon her vehicle, leaving several personal items behind, including credit cards.

The next day, the victim’s bank alerted her to fraudulent credit card activity in excess of $1,800.00 made using the stolen credit cards at several businesses in the surrounding area. An unknown suspect had entered the abandoned vehicle, stole the victims credit cards, and made several fraudulent purchases at local businesses.

Detectives assigned to the Santa Clara Valley Station obtained video of the suspects making these fraudulent purchases. Detectives were able to visually identify both suspects as Fillmore resident Rodrigo Estrada aka Rodrigo Perez and Santa Paula resident Pedro Chavez.

On 01/25/2023, Pedro Chavez was contacted and arrested in the city of Fillmore without incident. On 01/30/2023, Rodrigo Estrada aka Rodrigo Perez was contacted in the city of Santa Paula and he was arrested without incident. A search warrant of the vehicle driven by the suspects was obtained and numerous items purchased with the stolen credit cards were recovered.

Both parties were arrested and booked into the Ventura County Pre-Trail Detention Facility for violations of California Penal Code 530.5 (a) / Identity Theft and 182 (a) (1) / Conspiracy to Commit a Crime and 496 (a) / Receiving Stolen Property.

Pedro Chavez remains in custody with his bail set at $50.000.00. His court date is 01/31/2023. Rodrigo Estrada aka Rodrigo Perez also remains in custody with his bail set at $50.000.00. His court date is 02/01/2023.

Anyone with information pertaining to crimes of this nature are urged to contact the Fillmore Police Department at (805) 524-2233, Detective Valdez, or Detective Lemar at the below listed numbers. The reporting party may remain anonymous.

The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office is committed to maintaining the safety of all residents by continued community partnerships. The Fillmore Police Department encourages citizens to immediately report suspicious people and vehicles, and to promptly report any crime they come across by calling 911. The Ventura County Sheriff’s Office would like to thank members of the public for their on-going support and due diligence in providing information to assist our agency in solving crimes.

Nature of Incident: Suspects Victimize Flood Evacuee
Report Number: 23-3952
Location: South Mountain Road / Balcom Canyon Road, Unincorporated area of Ventura County
Date & Time: January 10, 2023 @ 9:48 AM
Unit(s) Responsible: Santa Clara Valley Station Patrol, Santa Clara Valley Detectives
(S)uspects, (V)ictims, (P)arty, (D)ecedent City of Residence Age
(S-1) Rodrigo Estrada aka Rodrigo Perez, Fillmore, 45
(S-2) Pedro Soria Chavez, Santa Paula, 26
Prepared by: Detective Sergeant Will Hollowell
Approved by: Captain Eduardo Malagon

Ventura County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 reward for information, which leads to the arrest and criminal complaint against the person(s) responsible for this crime. The caller may remain anonymous. The call is not recorded. Call Crime Stoppers at 800-222-TIPS (8477).